The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-01-01
THINK THEY ARE SICK.
IMAGINARY ILLS TO WHICH HUMAN
FLESH Is HEIR.
People who Insist Upon Being Dosed,
and How They are Accommodated.
Bread Pills and Simple sirup for
Fancied Ailments.


"Do you see that lady?
A prominent Detroit physician indicated
Q lady who had just left his Office.
"Well, she imagines she has consumption,
and this is her third visit TO me. You
needn't look surprised. II / were to tell
her the truth-that she hasn't the remotest
symptoms Of tho disease-she wG"ld think
me fool, and go to another doctor. And
if he told her the truth she would keep on
going until she found a physician who
agreed with her. The only way to deal
with persons who think they have consump-
ton is to humor their whim, charge as lit
tie as possible without exciting their suspi-
cion, and bring them around perfectly cured
as soon as they can be made TO believe it.
You have no idea of the number Of intelli-
gent ladies who imagine they have consump-
tion OF cancer Some relative or acquaint-
ance of theirs has died with one of these
complaints, and the first time they cough
they are convinced it is the beginning Of
consumption, and the least little pimple or
burning sensation drives them almost fran
tic with the thought that cancer is form
ing. The only possible way to deal with
this class of cases is to thoroughly gain the
confidence of the patient. They watch
the physician like a cat, and any hesitation
on his part leads them to either imagine the
worst or else set him down as incompetent.
'T usually ask a few direct questions, such
as when the trouble was first noticed, the
exact location and intensity of the pain, and
then fall into their view of the matter.
assure them that they have done wise
thing in comiry to me at once, as, now that
the trouble can be taken in time, there
will be no difficulty in efecting a speedy
cure. A few bread pills and a bottle of
scented sirup are prepared with the greatest
care and particular directions given as to
how they are to be taken. At the next
visit noticed perceptible change for the
better, and am delighted, as | hardly ex-
+ pected any Improvement so soon. The third
visit shows a complete eradication OF the
acute nature of the trouble, but to provide
against any return new remedies are ap
piled. At the fourth visit the patient is as
well rs anybody, treatment is discontinued,
and / have gained few dollars and life
long friend and patron.
"And there is no quackery about it?'
"Not bit. But if | were to tell the
truth in the first place the patient would
probably fall into the hands of some unscru-
pulous medic who would scare the life out
Of her and charge dollars whore only take
cents. "
ITO what extent does this sort of practice
EXIST"
"Well, if only those who really require
physician were prescribed for one-quarter
of the doctors in Detroit would become
MicawberS On the other hand, there ere
a class Of people not alone confined to the
poor who neglect calling doctor until it Is
too late he gets the case just in time to
make out the death certificate. There are
hundreds OF cases terminating fatally which
might have been saved if taken in time.
This is a very uneven world, my friend,
take it how you will-financially, politi-
cally, socially or incidentally. We boast Of
our enlightenment, but you have no idea
of the superstition existing all around us.
Why, the faith cure has SO many follow
ers that it has almost grown respectable
See the number Of cairvoyant 'healers
who maintain themselves in luxury by Soc
ing the disease and remedy in trance.
How many, think you carry horse chest
nuts III their pockets every day of their
lives to keep off rheumatism, and would
not dare 20 without one' Not few, | as
sure you Look at the vast sales of patent
medicines Now let me tell you something
about these patent medicines. They are
prepared for general consumption, and for
that very reason must Of necessity be with
out Writ You never hear of any one
being i'm, red by them-that would not do,
as il would at once stop the sale or the
article. So they are =. pared for the most
delicate child and the strongest man-mere
wash. A remedy which will do no ono harm
will do no one any good. There are a hun
dred other superstitions, but don't know
as l ought to be surprised at them. Medi-
cine itself has only recently emerged from
an almost barbaric state. Less than twenty
five years ago we were saliyeting with Gallo
MEL cupping and blistering, and bleeding
for almost everything. The counter irrit-
ant is still practiced to some extent. "
What is that''
"Why, If little boy was beating drum,
and you wished TO hush his nOise, the way
to do it would be to commence firing can
non. If YOU have a nain in your stomach
put on a blister and it will hurt ycu 30 much
worse that you'll never notice the pain.
Medicated plasters are all right when ap-
piled TO extract pain OF any deep seated
morbidity, as has often been proven, but as
a counter irrtant regard them as relic
of barbarism. But, then, medicine has
made wonderful progress in the last
twenty years, since the homeopathic op-
position began 1t woke the old school up,
and by 50 doing bestowed all inestimable
boon upon humanity. Its first ideas, re-
garling infinitesimal doses, were Us much
to one extreme us the other schools C"ses
were 10 the other. Both schools have
receded from their extreme views, and are
now very near together. Another change
is the breaking up of the profession into
speciaties A country store contains
everything - hardware, groceries, dry
goods. boots and shoes. SO it used To be
with medicine Only twenty five years aSc
you had to go to doctor 70 get a tooif
pulled. Now you go to a dentist. The
eve and ear are made one speciality, brain
diseases and insanity another, and 50 on. II
is impossible for one mind TO be expert al
all classes of diseases. 1t is too much tc
expect man who amputates a leg TO bt
able the next moment to prescribe for an